Tube News | 22nd May

Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths.
Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Saviour, and my hope is in you all day long.Psalm 25 v 4

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We asked Jon Young these questions and here's what he said...

What is something you are learning?
The big learning issue for me is to slow down, focus on today, do not worry too much tomorrow, hold on to the future lightly but with hope. Amanda was already exploring and practicing being in the moment before lockdown, so it has been natural progression for her. Jack in a way has coped better with the changes and he has focused and concentrated fully on achieving his long term goals of getting into the Marines and steps that will get him there like increasing his fitness levels and completing college courses.
I think the other thing I am learning that some of the things forced onto me because of the lockdown, may well be worth holding onto when it finishes. For example, as a Counsellor, it is now apparent to me now that I could work from home via skype etc. This did not even enter my head before. There are many advantages. No need to travel to a venue. Better flexibility for clients, reduced overheads, etc. It will never and should never replace face to face counselling, but it certainly has a place.

How are you keeping active?
Making sure I walk daily in the beautiful surroundings of our lane beside the Lanhydrock estate. We have woods, rivers, and bluebells on our doorstep. I think I was guilty of taking it for granted before the lock down, and now I appreciate it more. My heart goes out in compassion and my head cannot make sense of how people cope, (and they do) with being lockdown in a small flat somewhere up in a high rise in the centre of a big city.

Where have you noticed God?
In the beauty of creation. Seeing our local resident bats fly around our garden at dusk. Hearing the owls hoot to each other as they discuss their Parliamentary things in the black of night. Wandering out with our dog’s last walk of the day, looking up and marvelling again at a sky full of shimmering stars and pondering again the enormity of our Galaxy which is only a fraction of a fraction of a small part of a much bigger universe. Then there is seeing God in the way he gently and sensitively melts away my worries as he addresses each one.

Where is community?
Community is all around; we still reach and support our elderly neighbours when they need it. We try in keep in touch with family and friends. We try and connect with Tubestation members. Amanda has made contact and has had various positive conversations with National Trust Rangers who are doing a real difficult job of maintaining and policing the estate during lockdown. This perhaps did not happen before. Thursday nights we connect with Wadebridge homegroup. It has brought some fun and food for thought into our lives. It is always reassuring to the Tube Community still functioning, adapting, and reaching out to people.

How are you giving back?
In a way this perhaps is the most difficult one, because our giving back has changed so much when comparing pre and post lockdown. On one level I feel our giving back has greatly reduced: a lack of close social interaction. Not being able to visit friends and family. Making do with telephone conversations, rather than traveling to see them and taking them down the pub. What can I give back when stuck with in a few miles of home for over two months? I suppose writing this is giving back, but somehow it seems far less substantial than all the things we did pre lockdown. But we cannot control these weird circumstances we find ourselves in; we can only respond to what God puts in front of us. The truth again can be found in the bible.

A Time for Everything
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

A message form Henry...

"So happy to be back in the sea again and mega thankful to friends and family in Polzeath and @chrisatdailybread surfboards for the beautiful handplane. We've been having lots of fun with it the last few days . So much love to the Tube family far and wide x
"Every day I say to myself, today I will begin" St. Anthony of the Desert. "